2
a
: of or relating to the earliest age or period : primeval
b
: closely approximating an early ancestral type : little evolved
c
: belonging to or characteristic of an early stage of development : crude, rudimentary
d
: of, relating to, or constituting the assumed parent speech of related languages
3
b
sometimes offensive : of, relating to, or produced by a people or culture that is nonindustrial and often nonliterate and tribal
(2)
: produced by a self-taught artist
1
a
: something primitive
specifically : an original or primary idea, term, or proposition
2
a(1)
: an artist of an early period of a culture or artistic movement
(2)
: a later imitator or follower of such an artist
b(1)
: a self-taught artist
(2)
: an artist whose work is marked by directness and naivete
d
: a typically rough or simple usually handmade and antique home accessory or furnishing
3
a
dated, sometimes offensive : a member of a people that is nonindustrial, often tribal, and often without a written language
b
disparaging + often offensive : an unsophisticated person
Synonyms
Examples of primitive in a Sentence
Adjective
the time when primitive man first learned to use fire The technology they used was primitive and outdated. The camp had only a primitive outdoor toilet. Noun
The museum is known for its collection of American primitives.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Houde said these mammoth animals are a primitive group of proboscideans ('elephantoids') from which modern elephants evolved.
—
Joseph J. Kolb, Fox News, 18 July 2017
Many are primitive and remote, and don’t have restrooms or water.
—OregonLive.com, 12 July 2017
Burlington Antique Show Browse more than 200 dealers of antiques, vintage jewelry, primitives, garden and architectural elements, mid-century collectibles, memorabilia, Americana and retro/vintage furniture at this monthly outdoor antique market.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 14 Aug. 2024
It can be used to achieve a lot of other cryptographic primitives.
—Quanta Magazine, 1 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for primitive
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English prymytyff, primitive "early (of the Christian church), non-corporeal (of the cause of a disease)," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French primitif "original, primary (of a cause)," borrowed from Medieval Latin prīmitīvus "belonging to the earliest time or state, original," going back to Latin, "early, first-formed," from prīmitus "at first, for the first time, originally" (from prīmus "first, foremost, earliest" + -itus, adverbial suffix of origin) + -īvus -ive — more at prime entry 1
Noun
noun derivative of primitive entry 1; (sense 1b) Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin prīmitīvus, noun derivative of prīmitīvus "primary, original"
First Known Use
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b
Time Traveler
The first known use of primitive was in the 15th century
Browse Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
“Primitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https:///dictionary/primitive. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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